Eric Lee Lambie

He was born January 29th,1953 in Peoria. He graduated from Bartonville Grade School and Limestone High School (1971). He was a retired member of the Boilermakers, Local 158, and worked construction with his Dad, Alex (Pete) Lambie. He worked on a barge on the Mississippi River, and was an extra in the movie “Life on the Mississippi”, which is still available on Netflix. He enjoyed the great outdoors, and in younger years, was active in the Rendezvous circuit, where he lived in a real Tepee and wore his own hand-made buckskins.

He enjoyed boating, hunting, and fishing and ran his own “On The Fly” fishing guide service for 30 years, helping many aspiring fishermen catch the “big ones”. In 1991, he won first place in the Plains Division of the World Series of Team Bass Fishing, he won the Regional Circuit of the Bass Masters and fished in the National championship competition. In 1995, he was named “Mr. Bass” by the Pro Division of the Illinois Circuit of the Midwest Bass Association. He had wilderness property in Northern Iowa, on which he built a cabin near a trout stream.

Eric’s Christian faith was very strong. He was a very active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Bartonville, where he served on the church council, sang bass in the choir, served as assisting minister, volunteered at the church food pantry, and delivered Holy Communion to shut ins. He loved music, and played drums and piano. In the mid 1980’s, he went through a Cursillo retreat in Peoria. He was just 2 classes shy of completing a three-year program that would have made him a Synodically Authorized Lay Minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

He was proud of his Scottish Heritage, and wore the “Lamont” clan kilt with pride to Scotch/Irish events. He is survived by his Mother, Jo Ann Lambie of Bartonville, his sister, Pepper (and Don) Bauer of Mapleton, sister Lennan (and Fred) Schulzki of Florida, his beloved dog Cocoa, and the “catch of his life”, Betty A. Lyons, of Mapleton. His Father, Alex (Pete) Lambie preceded him in death in 2003. A Memorial service will be held at 11 am Saturday February 11th , at St. John Lutheran, 6614 W. Smithville Road in Bartonville, with visitation one hour before. Davison-Fulton-Bartonville Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

The family is forever thankful for the tender loving care he received at Lutheran Hillside Village in his final months. Memorials may be made to the Benevolent Fund of Lutheran Hillside Village or St. John Lutheran Church of Bartonville. Words of comfort can be shared with the family at www.davison-fulton-bartonvillechapel.com.